Consulting

Many of my facebook friends chose 'apple' as one of their favorite flavors in winter cocktails. There is nothing like the taste of apple in a winter cocktail - it is soothing, warm, and comforting, especially in front of the fireplace on a cold night. These cocktails incorporate the apple flavor by liquor, liqieir, or juice/cider.

My facebook fans have responded by choosing wild berries for their favorite flavor this winter season. So I give you my very best berry cocktails - part one.

Blueberries, either fresh,frozen, or as a distilled spirit provide a sweet tartness to cocktails and pair well with a variety of other flavors. Whether you are looking for fresh blueberry cocktails or a way to use that blueberry-flavored liquor, this list of cocktails is a good place to start.

Well, November is here. Halloween has past and winter hibernation is starting to look more and more appealing so it’s time to stay at home and keep warm. The upside: It’s time to start planning those holiday parties and drinking at home or friend's house.

As the weather gets cooler (if you live in that part of the world), it’s necessary to adjust your cocktail menu accordingly. That doesn’t mean going straight for steaming hot drinks just yet—though I'm certainly not opposed to a good Hot Toddy, Buttered Rum, or Irish Coffee. Now is the time for richer, fuller-bodied spirits.

No matter how many you consume, you'll never forget your first Harvey Wallbanger. November 8th is "National Harvey Wallbanger" and I am here to illustrate it's strange and intriguing history. This classic drink has made a splash in the annals of cocktail history thanks to it's unique and memorable name. According to drink mythology, it was named after a surfer in the 1950's. After losing in a surfing competition in Cali, the downtrodden surfer dude, Tom Harvey, went to his regular bar and ordered his favorite concoction - orange juice and vodka with a float of Galliano.

Whether you plan a Halloween Party this year or just want some eerie, spooky, scary concoctions to sip this Halloween season at home or a friend's house, these cocktails will satisfy your palate and impress your guests. They look really cool! Don't expect to have your neighborhood bartender mix one of these up because most of the drinks are novelty drinks and are intended for Halloween. I will be mixing up some of these at my Halloween Party this Saturday. Stay tuned for part 2 on Thursday because there are just too many to list in this one post.

Saving money on vodka is a tricky subject because it is very easy to get a really bad and cheap vodka. There are many brands that cost around $10 for a 750 ml bottle and some are considerably better than others. Those listed below, depending on the market, will only cost you about $10.

Most vodkas that go for the $10, like McCormick, Popov and Hawkeye. Unless you use a filtering system of your own like the Vodkastick or want an enormous hangover tomorrow, I recommend you stay away from those. The cost savings is not worth it.

In celebrating "National Liqueur Day" on October 16th, let's get to know a little more about that classification of alcohol - Liqueurs, also known as 'Cordials', which is the more widely used term in Europe. 'Liqueur' is used in the USA. The basic definition of a liqueur or cordial is "a sweet and syrupy product made from a base spirit, i.e. vodka, gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, and brandy. It is made by infusing fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, and other naturally occurring products in the environment into a base spirit, therefore, lowering the alcohol content during distillation.

About Michael Nagy & Raise Your Spirits

Michael has been working in the bar and restaurant industry since 2000 as a head mixologist, liquid bar chef, spirits sommelier, bar manager, bar consultant, and cocktail expert. He holds an Advanced Certification in Mixology Bartending from the Professional Bartending Schools of America and is a former advanced mixology instructor at a prominent national bartending school. He has worked with many local bars and restaurants on developing cocktail menus, improving visibility, and customer service training. His cocktail book "The Cocktail Rediscovered" was released in 2007 and he currently runs a bar and cocktail website/blog here called “Tails from the Barstool”.

Michael is Owner & Operator of “Raise Your Spirits”, an elite bartending, top-shelf cocktail and beverage service, and bar consultation service in Central Pennsylvania since 2013. He has created seasonal cocktail menus for martini bars and cocktail lounges as well as for event venues, individuals, and businesses. He holds a B.S. Degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and has Master's credits in Education and Community Psychology. Michael has been writing for Chilled Magazine for over 2 years, other trade publications, and is currently contributing to "The Culture Trip", a travel, lifestyle, and culture site based in L.A. and Epicurious as a community writer. He can be followed on his site here, on Twitter @mixitup42, and Facebook at facebook.com/tailsfromthebarstool.com.

"I hired Michael for a Corporate event with ~150 people and he was very helpful in organizing all of the fine details of the event. With two separate bars at the event, he was very efficient in keeping both fully stocked and making drink recommendations along the way. Will definitely be hiring Raise Your Spirits in the future!" Chad D.

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